Obsolete Time Lite (a minty Nixie clock)

Get all the design files here: https://github.com/opeRaptor/OTlite

After writing a basic firmware to keep the time from the DS3132 and to display it on the tube, we got the lovely orange glow.

Although it is due to the very small form factor of the transformer it has the tendency to heat up.

We decided to laugh about it:

The firmware is very simple right now but we are working hard to make the most of the IoT aspect with the ESP8266. For now, the RTC time is adjusted on bootup using NTP. Stay tuned!

After a busy weekend of assembly, the board were completed and tested. Next step: writing a firmware to display the time

And it fit in the ALTOIDS box!

We sent the PCBs to fabrication and a week later, we received them and they look pretty good! Unfortunately the QR code was not printed in a resolution high enough to be readable, but we will get it right on the next batch.

Matt has been working on the models. We will use the tube model on our PCB render next (assigning the model to the part in Kicad)

Eventually we will be able to export the PCB back into Blender and have a render of the whole assembly!

We have been working hard on the layout... Here is the first render of the complete board. A little more looking around for mistakes and we should be ready to send to the fab house!

Powered using a single cell USB battery and controlled via an ESP8266!

If you followed our previous project O;T you know we have been working a long time toward a PSU capable of stepping up ~5V to 170V for the Nixies to light. We have succeeded!